WCP3723

[1]

Broadstone, Wimborne

July 18^th 1905

My dear Mitten¹

Can you tell me in what year it was we first went to Wales together,² & you got such a fine haul of mosses in that ravine below the bridge 5 miles from Corwen? Could you tell me roughly how many species you gathered or saw ⁱⁿ that place, & whether you ever in all your subsequent visits to Wales found so rich a locality or spot? I want just to refer to it, because I want to give a print of the fine photo of the Waterfall at Llanrhayder [sic] [2] which I have got.

Also I forget where else we went on that occasion. Did we go on to Peny-Gwryd & up Snowdon in the early morning with Geach?³ Or was that on another occasion, and when? And did we then go into the little valley below Bedd-Gelert where you found the rare water-moss? I do not seem to remember that Geach was with us then, but perhaps he only joined [3] us to go up Snowdon⁴ & then went home.

Also what year was it we went to Spa together? That I quite forget but Bessie⁵ will no doubt know the date.

We are "kilt with drought", & heat. The blue Meconopses flowering, but very poorly for want of moisture. The Romneyd you gave me has several fine flowers & seems to be the only thing that is enjoying the weather!

Please send me the [4] dates &c. as soon as you can, as my MSS. is going to the printer.

Yours very truly | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

1. Mitten, William (1819-1906). Father-in-law of ARW; chemist and authority on bryophytes.

2. See WCP3917. https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP3917

3. Geach, Frederick F. (1835-1890). British mining engineer and friend of ARW.

4. See WCP3921. https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP3921

5. Mitten, Bessie Jordan (1854-1936) Daughter of William Mitten; Sister-in-law of ARW.